THESE are historic times which The Northern Echo may never see again - times in which we are the local paper for both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Sedgefield and Richmondshire are the respective constituencies and their places on the map have been underlined as a consequence of their recent political significance.

Last night, the Sedgefield constituency hosted a rare meeting between world leaders. Tony Blair sat down for dinner with French President Jacques Chirac and The County Hotel in Newton Aycliffe has never seen anything quite like it.

Lamb replaced beef on the menu to avoid any sensitivities, and Mr Blair and President Chirac discussed the importance of the forthcoming EU summit in Nice next month.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had set the tone before Mr Blair met President Chirac at Teesside Airport by highlighting the Government's determination to defend Britain's interests at Nice.

The very future of European co-operation being discussed over the dinner table between world leaders in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham - history in the making for our region.

While such a significant encounter was bound to dominate our front page this morning, our business page records a chapter which embodies the concerns of many about Europe.

We will have to wait longer to discover the outcome of discussions which are vital to the economic well-being of this region. A decision on where Nissan will build the new Micra has been put back to the New Year while the EU investigates the legality of a proposed £40m Government grant.

That package of state aid - not large in the context of what is at stake - is vital if the Micra is to be built at Sunderland and at least 1,000 North-East jobs safeguarded.

Nissan workers on Wearside have already demonstrated their flexibility by introducing new working arrangements to fit in with the demands of producing the new Micra.

How galling it would be, at a time when the Government is shouting loudly about the need to protect Britain's interests, if the EU was seen to block a relatively small grant which could trigger investment of such huge importance to our region.